Method of extracting brains



Sept. 18, 1962 H. A. PRONIO 3,054,138

METHOD OF EXTRACTING BRAINS Filed Dec. 24, 1959 .2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVEN TOR.

\ HARRY A. PRO/W0 BY Z Z Z ATTORNEY Sept. 18, 1962 A. PRONIO METHOD OF EXTRACTING BRAINS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 24, 1959 I N V EN TOR. Ha my ,4 PRO/W0 ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,054,138 METHOD OF EXTRACTING BRAINS Harry A. Pronio, Zanesville, Ohio Filed Dec. 24, 1959, Ser. No. 861,937 1 Claim. (Cl. 1745) The present invention relates to a novel method and apparatus for extracting the brains from the skull of a cattle.

The present practice of removing the brains from the skull of a cattle consists of forming an incision in the skull, exerting a substantial force to open the skull, and inverting the skull to permit the brain to emerge from its cavity. ,Not only does this involve a laborious operation but it is also time consuming, the usual time required for this operation varying from three to ten minutes.

In the improved method of the present invention, after following the usual procedure of severing the head of the cattle at the neck, a bullet hole is formed in the head of the skull by means of a gun, and by inserting the nozzle of a special extraction tool into the thus formed bullet hole, and forcing a proper mixture of water and air through the opening formed by the bullet, the membrane tissue will break at the spinal cord and the complete brain will be blown out through the spinal cord opening. The entire operation of forming the bullet hole opening and blowing out the brains as described above consumes approximately five seconds.

Thus, the primary object of the present invention is to provide a novel method and apparatus for removing the brains from the skull of a cattle in a simple and expeditious manner.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel method and apparatus for removing the brains from the skull of a cattle wherein the brain mass is obtainable in its complete normal state essentially free from blood clots, bruises and cuts.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a skull with the extractor tool in position for extracting the brain from the skull.

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the extractor tool.

FIGURE 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view through the extractor tool.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of a valve piston used in the extractor tool.

Referring to the drawings in detail numeral indicates the extractor tool, numeral 11 the skull of a cattle, numeral 12 designates the extracted brain, and numeral 13 the bullet hole formed in the skull by any suitable gun.

Referring to FIGURE 3, the extractor tool comprises the main body casing 14 having a longitudinal chamber 15 formed therein and terminating in an enlarged threaded bore 16 for receiving the threaded end 17 of a nozzle member 18. The forward end of the nozzle 18 is of such size as to fit into a normal bullet opening as shown in FIGURE 1.

The casing 14 is further provided with an enlarged passageway 19 open at one end as indicated at 20 and 3,054,138 Patented Sept. 18., 1962 having a reduced bore 21 at its other end. Slidably received in the passageway 19 is a piston valve 22 having a reduced rod portion 23 extending through the bore 21 for a purpose to be described.

A handle member 24 having two passages 25 and 26 extending therethrough is bolted to the lower surface of the casing by bolts 27. Extending through the passage 25 is a water hose 28, one end of which is suitably connected to a source of water (not shown) and having its other end provided with a threaded nipple 29 threaded to the casing 14 and communicating with a bore 30 formed in the casing which in turn communicates with chamber 15 through passageway 19 and opening 31. The air hose 32 extends through passage 26 and has one end connected to a source of air pressure (not shown) and its other end provided with a threaded nipple 33 threaded to the casing 14 and communicating with a bore 34 which in turn communicates with chamber 15 through passageway 19 and opening 35 formed in the casing 14.

The upper portion of the casing is suitably bored at 36 and 37 to receive adjusting control screws 38 and 39 respectively to provide a proper mixture of air and water to enter the chamber 15 to be passed through nozzle 18. An enlarged view of this detail is shown in FIGURE 4.

The valve piston 22, shown in detail in FIGURE 3 and 5, includes enlarged shut-off portions 40 and 41 spaced apart a distance equal to the distance between the bores 30 and 34. The piston also includes reduced portions 42 and 43 for enabling communication between bore 30 and 31 and bore 34 and 35 when the piston is in proper position. In FIGURE 3, the piston 22 is urged to its closed position with portion 40 closing oif bore 34 and portion 41 closing ofi bore 30, by means of a spring 44 bearing against one end of the piston and compressible between the piston and cap member 45. The cap member is removable to enable removal of the piston for cleaning or replacement.

Means are provided for urging the piston to an operative position when the tool is to be used and this means consists of a trigger 46, pivoted at one end to the casing 14 by means of a pivot pin 47. It will be seen that the pivoted end of the trigger is constructed to permit free movement inwardly but limited movement outwardly. With the valve in closed position as seen in FIG- URE 3, the trigger 46 rests against the outer end of rod 23. Numeral 48 indicates a supporting hook for the tool when not in use.

In the operation of the present device, the tool, with its valve in closed position as seen in FIGURE 3, has its nozzle inserted in the bullet hole 13 as seen in FIG- URE 1. Pressure against the trigger 46, will move the piston to the left as seen in FIGURE 3, thereby uncovering the passages 30 and 34 and admitting air and water to the chamber 15 through bores 31 and 35. The mixture of air and water which has been suitably determined and controlled by control screws 38 and 39, is admitted into the skull 11 through bullet hole 13. This mixture of air and water is sutficient to separate the membrane tissue to break at the spinal cord and force the complete brain 12 out through the spinal cord opening.

Thus it will be seen that the present method and apparatus are well adapted to accomplish the objects and purposes of the invention. While I have shown a preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be readily understood that minor changes may be made in the details of construction of the tool without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the appended claim.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed 5 A method of extracting the brains from a skull which comprises the steps of severing the skull from the body,

forming a bullet hole in the skull, and forcing a mixture of water and air through said bullet hole whereby the 10 brain is blown out of the skull where it is severed from the body.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

